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This county was formed from Montgomery, Feb. 16, 1791. Onondaga
was taken off in 1794, Oneida and a part of Chenango in 1798; the present
territory of Hamilton co. was taken off and annexed to Montgomery in 1797;
parts of Montgomery co. were annexed April 7, 1817; and parts of Richfield
and Plainfield, Otsego co., were annexed in forming Winfield in 1816.
It is centrally distant 80 mi. from Albany, and contains 1,745 sq. mi.

Agriculture forms the leading pursuit. The hilly character of
the surface particularly adapts this co. to pasturage; and dairying has
long been the leading branch of industry. Hops are largely produced.
At Little Falls, and a few other localities, considerable manufacturing
is carried on.

The county seat is located at the village of Herkimer. The courthouse
is a fine brick building fronting Main St., near the center of the village.
The jail is a stone building, on the opposite side of the st. from the
courthouse. The clerk's office is a fireproof brick building, upon
the courthouse lot, fronting Court St. The poorhouse is located upon
a farm of 65 acres 6-1/2 mi. N. of the courthouse. The average number
of inmates is 130, supported at a weekly cost of $1.30 each. The
farm yields a revenue of about $700. A school is taught about 6 months
in the year. The institution is in good condition and seems to be
well managed. The works of internal improvement within the co. are
the Erie Canal and the N. Y. Central R. R., both extending along the valley
of the Mohawk.

[Extracted from "Gazetteer of the State of New York", by J. H. French,
1860, the section on Herkimer County.]

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